Alignment guides for constructing building components

ABSTRACT

The invention pertains to the field of construction of buildings and structures. The invention relates to alignment guides for constructing building components, namely walls, ceilings and floors to be used in buildings and structures. This invention also relates to kits of specific alignment guides and methods of using alignment guides.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.14/048,939, filed on Oct. 8, 2013, which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention pertains to the field of construction of buildings andstructures. The invention relates to alignment guides, and morespecifically alignment guides for constructing building components.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the construction of buildings and structures many techniques andtechnologies have been developed for increasing accuracy, productivity,efficiency and sustainability.

These techniques and technologies range from pre-fabricated completedstructures or sub-assemblies built in factories and assembled on site,to formless and formed cement products and traditional stick and frameconstruction.

Each of these building techniques and technologies comes with inherentrestrictions and limitations in their use. Many of these limitationssurround initial cost, cost for changes and transportation costs fordelivery.

For example, a pre-fabricated house is built in factory, checked forcompletion, dissembled, transported and re-assembled on the site.Problems on the site may be extremely difficult and costly to fix. Thetransportation of building subassemblies often leads to cosmetic andstructural damage along with the safety and congestion problems involvedin moving the building down roads and freeways.

Techniques and technologies such as structural insulated panels (“SIPS”)have not shown reduction in costs or significant increase in quality andrequire structural demolition of the SIPS to include water pipes andelectrical wiring.

Insulated concrete forms (“ICF”) are expensive due to the high cost ofconcrete and rebar, and also suffer from high transportation costs anddeconstruction of the ICF to include water pipes and electrical wiring.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,491 describes a panel with facings of weatherresistant plastic impregnated paper (“PIP”) disposed on opposed outersurfaces of an inner insulating core, such as of plastic foam or anagricultural product such as strawboard. Spaced elongated linear studsare attached to either the outer or inner surface of one or both of thePIP facings and facilitate attachment of a structural facing.

German patent application No. DE19843400404 describes a panel with aframe, sheet-metal profiles and at least one strut connecting two framesides, as well as a covering located on at least one plane defined bythe frame and fastened thereto. The space defined by the frame thicknessis filled, at least over part of said frame thickness, with aninsulating material, which is preferably composed of a foamed plastic.

Traditional cement forming and steel stud walls have dominatedcommercial constructions. This is due to the significant costs offorming and cost of cement thus relegating this construction techniqueto, almost exclusively, commercial applications. Included in thesesignificant costs are considerable design and engineering fees.Complicating this process is the need, primarily due to type ofstructure being built, that of skyscrapers or multi-floor buildings, tobring all internal wall structures in constant parts resulting in “onepiece at a time” wall construction and its inherent high cost andinefficiencies and inaccuracies.

Traditional stick and frame construction, due to lower cost and higheradaptability to the job site, remains the favorite construction methodfor the vast majority of the construction trades. It has beenuniversally recognized that while the traditional stick and frameconstruction may not have the same level of quality, durability,efficiency or accuracy as some of the later developed technology such asICF or SIPS or factory built structures, it does have the greatestadaptability to site conditions and changes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to alignment guides for constructing buildingcomponents, namely walls, ceilings and floors to be used in buildingsand structures. This invention also relates to kits of specificalignment guides and methods of using alignment guides.

The invention relates to a plurality of alignment guides, each alignmentguide comprising a series of slots spaced lengthwise, said alignmentguides capable of placement along a first end and a fourth end of aconstruction sheet having the first end opposite the fourth end and asecond end opposite a third end, such that studs placed substantiallyperpendicular to the alignment guides and aligned between each slot onthe alignment guide on the first end and an opposing slot on thealignment guide on the fourth end form a series of equally spacedparallel studs. And further comprising at least one second alignmentguide capable of placement on the second end and at least one thirdalignment guide capable of placement on the third end wherein a studabutting the second alignment guide rests outside of the second end ofthe construction sheet and a stud abutting the third alignment guiderests inside of the third end of the construction sheet.

The invention relates to an open trough shaped alignment guidecomprising a base and two side arms, said base approximating the widthof a construction stud and at least one of said side arms furtherprojecting to form an exterior side channel having a width approximatingthe depth of a sheet of construction material. In a further embodimentthere are two side channels which open in the opposite direction of thetrough or two side channels which open in the same direction as thetrough.

This invention further relates to an open trough shaped alignment guidecomprising a base and two side arms, the width of said baseapproximating the width of a construction stud and the length includingslots spaced equidistance apart, said side arms further projectingfirstly perpendicular and secondly parallel to the side arms to eachform an exterior side channel opening in the opposite direction of theopen trough, each channel having a width approximating the depth of asheet of construction material, said side arms having a heightapproximating the depth of a construction stud.

This invention further relates to an open trough shaped alignment guidecomprising a base and two side arms, the width of said baseapproximating the width of a construction stud and said side armsfurther projecting firstly perpendicular and secondly parallel to theside arms to each form an exterior side channel opening in the oppositedirection of the open trough, each channel having a width approximatingthe depth of a sheet of construction material, said side arms having aheight approximating half the depth of a construction stud.

This invention further relates to an open trough shaped alignment guidecomprising a base and two side arms, said base approximating the widthof a construction stud and said side arms approximating the height ofhalf the depth of a construction stud, each side arm projecting firstsubstantially perpendicular to form a shelf having a width approximatingthe depth of a sheet of construction material, and projecting secondlysubstantially parallel to the side arm.

This invention further relates to an trough shaped alignment guidecomprising two detachable right-angle shaped base units each with abottom and side and two detachable side arm units further projecting toeach form an exterior side channel having a width approximating thedepth of a sheet of construction material, wherein both the bottoms andthe sides of the base units have multiple attachment points such thatthe width of the bottom is adjustable when the bottoms are attached andthe height of the sides is adjustable when each side of the base unit isattached to each side arm unit.

This invention further relates to a pair of square shaped alignmentguides for rotating a building component, each alignment guidecomprising a flat base with a width approximating the width of aconstruction stud, and comprising an opening in the middle through whicha holding means is attached, said base including securing means forsecuring each alignment guide to opposite ends of the buildingcomponent.

This invention further relates to a kit of alignment guides capable ofbeing positioned at each of the four edges of a row of at least oneconstruction sheet, said alignment guides on two opposing edges of therow having indexing means to indicate the attachment location for studs,said alignment guides on the other two opposing edges of theconstruction sheet having opposing shapes such that the constructionsheet on one side protrudes and on the other side intrudes.

This invention further relates to a kit comprising one or more of thealignment guides described above.

This invention further relates to a method of constructing a buildingcomponent using studs and one or more construction sheets, comprisingthe steps of: placing the one or more construction sheets lengthwise ina row to form two outer lengthwise edges and a first and second outerside edge; placing along the two outer lengthwise edges of the row afirst open trough shaped alignment guide comprising a base and two sidearms, the width of said base approximating the width of a constructionstud and the length including slots spaced equidistance apart, said sidearms further projecting firstly perpendicular and secondly parallel tothe side arms to each form an exterior side channel opening in theopposite direction of the open trough, each channel having a widthapproximating the depth of a sheet of construction material, said sidearms having a height approximating the depth of a construction stud;placing along one of the first outer side edge a second open troughshaped alignment guide comprising a base and two side arms, the width ofsaid base approximating the width of a construction stud and said sidearms further projecting firstly perpendicular and secondly parallel tothe side arms to each form an exterior side channel opening in theopposite direction of the open trough, each channel having a widthapproximating the depth of a sheet of construction material, said sidearms having a height approximating half the depth of a constructionstud; placing at either end of the second outer side edge at least twoof a third open trough shaped alignment guide comprising a base and twoside arms, said base approximating the width of a construction stud andsaid side arms approximating the height of half the depth of aconstruction stud, each side arm projecting first substantiallyperpendicular to form a shelf having a width approximating the depth ofa sheet of construction material, and projecting secondly substantiallyparallel to the side arm; placing studs substantially perpendicular andbetween the first alignment guides guided by the slots to form a seriesof equally spaced parallel studs; and securing the series of studs tothe first alignment guides.

And the method may further comprise the step of securing the alignmentguides to the construction sheets and/or further comprises the step ofcovering the studs with construction sheets. If the studs are wood, themethod further comprises the additional step of removing the alignmentguides. If the studs are metal the alignment guides may remain with thebuilding component and not be removed.

The method may further comprise the step of installing foam between thestuds. The alignment guides described above may additionally includemarking of information selected from the group of volume, measurementand building code.

The alignment guides may be used with construction sheet(s) selectedfrom the group of drywall, particleboard, plywood and fiberglass. One ormore of the alignment guides may be attached together. A kit ofalignment guides, in which one or more of the alignment guides areattached together, are capable of being positioned around a four-sidedrow of at least one construction sheet, and the alignment guides areattached to at least one of the sides of the row. A kit of alignmentguides capable of being positioned at each of the four edges of a row ofat least one construction sheet, on one of the edges of the row haveindexing means to indicate the attachment location for studs, saidalignment guides on the other three edges of the construction sheetbeing attached to one another.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the alignment guides of an embodiment ofthe present invention without construction sheet material.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the alignment guides of FIG. 1 withconstruction sheet material.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the alignment guides of FIG. 2 withstuds.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the alignment guides of FIG. 3 with foaminsulation.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the alignment guides of an embodiment ofthe present invention in a completed wall.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a header/footeralignment guide.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a header/footeralignment guide showing placement of a stud and a construction sheet.

FIG. 8 is a top view of an embodiment of a header/footer alignmentguide.

FIG. 9 is a top view of an embodiment of a tongue alignment guide.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the tongue alignment guide of FIG.9.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a groove alignmentguide sized to the length of a construction sheet.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a header/footeralignment guide with insulation foam.

FIG. 13 is an exploded view of an embodiment of an adjustable alignmentguide.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of an embodiment of a rotatable alignment guide.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention exploits the high tolerance accuracy of modernconstruction sheets and the adaptability of on-site construction. Thepresent invention is adapted to current construction materials, as wellas current sizing and standards in construction, such as the type andsize of construction sheets and studs, and the sixteen inch spacing ofstuds. However, the present invention is adaptable to changes in thesizes and materials of construction material as well as the standardmodes of construction.

The present invention relates to alignment guides which are placed onconstruction sheets on-site to guide the construction of walls, ceilingsand floors with construction studs. Each alignment guide may comprisearmatures for indexing to the sheet material, and a main body.Construction studs refer to the vertical posts typically of wood orsteel in the framework of a wall running between a header and footer,but in this description the studs refer to the framework used for awall, floor or ceiling. Typical types of construction sheet material orwallboard are drywall or gypsum, particleboard and plywood, but may beany material board material such as fiberglass etc. In this description,an alignment guide placed at the top or bottom of a construction sheetis referred to as the header/footer alignment guide for ease oforientation although a ceiling or floor may not have the sameheader/footer (or top/bottom) reference point as a wall, and even thougha wall built with alignment guides of the present invention may also becapable of being orientated differently than a standard type of wall.The alignment guides which are referred to in this description as beingplaced on the sides of a construction sheet are again described this wayto orientate alignment guides relative to one another and with regard toenabling the description of how the “sides” of the wall or floor orceiling to fit together in a tongue and groove type fashion.

In an embodiment of the invention, there are three specific alignment,guides, namely header/footer, tongue, and groove, capable of beingmechanically fastened to the head and foot and each side, respectively,of any sheet of construction material, and which together enable theconstruction of a wall, ceiling or floor accurately and quickly. Thealignment guides of an embodiment of the invention include indexing forindicating the placement of internal and external parts that arerequired to make a wall, ceiling or floor, and also allow for placementof insulation and closure of the wall, ceiling or floor.

The alignment guides enable the construction of walls, floors andceilings, including inner and outer surfaces, with the ability to easilyinclude internal supporting structures, wiring, plumbing and insulationof whatever type. The assembly of building components can be completedquickly with the alignment guides of the present invention and withoutthe use of measuring devices, such as a measuring tape.

An embodiment of the present invention further relates to a kitcomprising various types of alignment guides. For example a kit maycomprise three specific types of alignment guides, which may be used inplurality to enable the construction of a wall, floor and ceiling. Thenumber of alignment guides of each type used will vary with the size ofthe wall, ceiling and floor component being constructed. For instance awall, ceiling or floor component measuring four by eight feet would haveone header/footer alignment guide at the head, one header/footeralignment guide at the foot, one groove alignment guide on one side andone, two three tongue alignment guide(s) on the other side. Thealignment guide used at the head is the same configuration as thealignment guide used at the foot given the typical header and footer oftypical walls.

If the wall, ceiling or floor is twice as tall as the above examplethere could still be one header/footer alignment guide at the head, oneheader/footer alignment guide at the foot, but there would be two groovealignment guides (or one elongated guide) and three or more tonguealignment guides.

By being modular in nature, sets or kits of the alignment guides canaccommodate all wall, ceiling and floor configurations.

The alignment guides include one or more holes for passage of eitherstandard or custom fasteners to allow for anchoring and fastening of allinternal parts of the wall, ceiling or floor, and each alignment guidemay be designed to hold a chalk line end for ease of sheet materialmarking.

Each alignment guide may comprise an alignment slot allowing the use ofany construction tool available to be used to place the wall, ceiling orfloor's internal pieces. This is accomplished by inserting theconstruction tool into any of the alignment guides' alignment slot andplacing the internal piece against it, thus achieving a “go/no go” guideand eliminating the use of measuring instruments.

Each alignment guide may have specialized openings to allow for theaccurate passing through of water and electrical and HVAC services.

Each alignment guide may have a specialty coating to prevent the buildupof construction adhesives and or insulating foams onto the alignmentguide, but in the case where the alignment guide is included in thewall, this specialty coating need not be applied.

In addition the header/footer alignment guides can be mechanicallyassembled to be used to make eight foot walls or whatever size isrequired.

These alignment guides may all have a detachable support point to allowfor insertion of a pipe to be supported in such a fashion as to allowthe wall to be easily turned.

An embodiment of the alignment guides relating to the present inventionis shown in FIG. 1 without the accompanying covering construction sheetmaterial in order to view the alignment guides more easily. FIG. 1 showstwo header/footer alignment guides 20 at each of the head and foot ofwhat could be a wall, floor or ceiling, with tongue alignment guides 30on one side, and groove alignment guides 40 on the other side.

In FIG. 2, the alignment guides of FIG. 1 are shown assembled to aconstruction sheets 110, creating a sixteen foot by eight foot wide wallwith multiple alignment guides 20, 30, 40 being used.

In FIG. 3, studs 60, and construction sheet 110 are shown with thealignment guides 30 and a conduit 68 is shown for electrical service.

In FIG. 4, spray foam 130, (although any insulating material may beused) has been installed into the wall cavity between studs 60. Prior toplacement of spray foam all other internal wall structures, such aswater, HVAC and electrical services are installed where necessary.

In FIG. 5, an external cladding 160, has been attached to a wallstructure, thus completing the wall. At this point in time the alignmentguides 20, 30, 40 would be disassembled from the wall and the wall canthen be placed in the building structure.

Each of the alignment guides 20, 30, 40 have different shapes toaccomplish different dimensional requirements which is shown in thefollowing figures.

For instance the header/footer alignment guide 20, has a cross sectionshape as shown in FIG. 6, which also shows its side channels 3.

In FIG. 7 the cross-section of alignment guide 20 shows only oneconstruction sheet 110 in place for ease of viewing of the invention. Italso indicates the channels 3, to which the construction sheet 110 isinserted to provide the basic assembly of the alignment guides.

In an embodiment, the header/footer alignment guide 20 has dimensions ofthree inches and works with 2×6 construction grade spruce studs to whichthe wall is attached, once the wall is assembled and the alignment guide20 is removed. The 2×6 studs are then attached to the floor as, iscommon practice in structure building.

When the construction sheet 110 is put in place it is secured using anyreadily available fastener through holes 170 shown in FIG. 8. In FIG. 8,there are a number of holes 170 along the fastening edge 220 since therecan be any number and any spacing of holes desired.

Also in FIG. 8, there is provided a square shape slot 230 which can beplaced at equal spacings of 16 inches. These slots 230 are placed atstandard building code spacing for wall studs and the slot accommodatesany number of common elongate tools found on a constructions site (e.g.screw driver, carpenter's pencil etc.) which can be inserted into theslot 230 to align the stud 60 with the alignment guide 20 without use ofmeasuring equipment, making the alignment quick and accurate.

For example, once placed in the right position the stud 60 is fastenedto alignment guide 20 with any readily available fastener throughsecuring hole 240 to secure its position. This fastener may be removedlater when the alignment guides are disassembled.

In the event that headers are to be included in a wall assembly,header/footer holes 250 have been placed on the alignment guide 20 at 16inch centers allowing fastening between the stud and the header orfooter. These fasteners do not hold on to the alignment guide 20, but dohold a header and stud or footer and stud together.

It is understood that the location and size of holes may be modified toaccommodate different fasteners/fastener systems and/or differentbuilding codes/standards. Typical fasteners are screws and nails, butany fastener system may be utilized to achieve the same result.

Also conveniently located on the fastening edge 220 is the chalk lineholding tab 260 for ease of construction for marking the constructionsheet 110 when in place for the centerlines of the studs 60 formechanical fastening.

In an embodiment, the overall length of an alignment guide 20 is fourfeet, namely the width of the construction sheet 110. If the wall is tobe eight feet wide there would be two alignment guides 20 used end toend.

As shown in FIG. 9, an embodiment of the tongue alignment guide 30 canbe of any length, but is shown to be eight feet. In an embodiment of theinvention the tongue alignment guide 30 is twelve inches and threetongue alignment guides 30 are used. The three are located in such asfashion as to facilitate aligning of the construction sheet 110.

In FIG. 9, a tongue alignment guide 30 is shown with tongue holes 290for attaching it to the stud 60. In an embodiment of the invention thetongue alignment guide 30 includes an opening 300 for passing any pipeor conduit with water, electrical, HVAC etc. through, and a sheetalignment groove 310 for assuring that when two or more sheets are usedthe edge alignment of the sheets can be seen. There are also a number offastening holes 350 for fastening the alignment guide 30 to the edge ofconstruction sheet 110.

In FIG. 10, a tongue alignment guide 30 is shown in cross-section, toshow a stud 60 held in place such that part of the stud thicknessextends beyond the edge of the construction sheet 110 so as to create atongue for inserting into the groove of the next wall assembly. In anembodiment, about half of the stud thickness is extending beyond theedge of the construction sheet 100, which is 0.75 inches for a standardstud.

An embodiment of a groove alignment guide 40 is the groove side of thetongue groove assembly feature for assembling the finished walls. In anembodiment shown in FIG. 11, the groove alignment guide 40 is the lengthof the construction sheet 110. In another embodiment of the inventionshown in FIG. 1, there are two groove alignment guides 40 abutted end toend to make the sixteen foot wall length.

A groove alignment guide 40 creates a cavity in the foam insulation andenables for the insertion of the tongue portion of the next assembledwall.

FIG. 12 shows the cross-section of a groove alignment guide 40. In thisembodiment the reciprocity to the dimensions of a tongue alignment guide30 is achieved since a groove alignment guide 40 keeps the foam 130back, and there is no stud required here as it is incorporated in thenext unit. In FIG. 12 the spray foam 130 is shown in place up to theinner surface of a groove alignment guide 40 and thus once groovealignment guide 40 is removed the groove is created.

In an embodiment, a groove alignment guide 40 is coated with releasepaint or agent to prevent the spray foam 130 from sticking to it. In anembodiment, alignment guides may be used in this manner to constructfoam insulation blocks to be installed in other walls, floors orceilings.

In an embodiment, the alignment guides may be removed and reusable andthis is typically desirable from a cost perspective as well as for easeof use with wood studs. However, the alignment guides (or selectedalignment guides) may also remain on the building component if desired.

In an embodiment, when steel stud construction is preferred, thealignment guides may remain with the wall, floor or ceiling constructed.Allowing alignment guides to become integral to the structure of a wall,floor or ceiling may aid in the consolidation of internal parts andexternal parts, increase in accuracy and efficiency and decrease costs.

In another embodiment, a header/footer alignment guide 20 can replace agroove alignment guide 40 by not fastening the stud in place and bycoating that stud with plastic or tape to prevent bonding with foam andso once assembly is completed the stud could then be removed leaving thefoam cavity. This cavity is of the same dimension as created by a groovealignment guide 40. This makes the kit simpler in that only aheader/footer alignment guide 20 and a tongue alignment guide 30 arerequired which results in less expense and smaller storage of alignmentguides. It will be understood that even one of the multiple types ofalignment guides or two or three and any variety therein may be used. Aswell, a kit comprised of any number of the three types of alignmentguides is also contemplated, the three types being the header/footeralignment guide, tongue alignment guide and groove alignment guide. Aswell as kits with these alignment guides in sizes all designed for 2×4studs or 2×6 studs or 2×8 studs etc. Or a kit with fixed and adjustablealignment guides or just adjustable alignment guides. And to any ofthese kits can be added rotatable alignment guides.

When using the various types of alignment guides together the tonguealignment guides may be used at either end of a construction sheet or arow of construction sheets, to align the edges of the construction sheetor sheets, and if there is a row of construction sheets a further tonguealignment guide may be placed in the center or for longer rows at equalspacing. And likewise the groove alignment guide may be used to alignthe edge of a construction sheet. With one construction sheet, twotongue alignment guides could be used to align the edges of one side ofa construction sheet and one header/footer alignment guide could be usedat both the head and foot of the construction sheet and a single groovealignment guide used on the other side of the construction sheet. Withrows of construction sheets, additional alignment guides may be used ordifferent sized guides may be used that are adapted and fixed oradjustable.

Alignment guides that have a trough shape and channels on either sideare capable of being used to build either a stud frame with noconstruction sheets attached but a construction sheet may be used foralignment purposes, or a single construction sheet wall or a doubleconstruction sheet wall and also with foam or without. Fixed oradjustable alignment guides may also be made with only a channel on oneside for single construction sheet walls or stud frame with noconstruction sheet. References to wall will be understood to include thesame construction for a ceiling or floor.

In an embodiment one or more of the alignment guides are attachedtogether, through mechanical fastening or welding, rather than beingseparate components. The attached alignment guides only need one of theguides to be indexed to only one edge of the construction sheet (or theguides on one edge to be indexed if there is more than one guide on thatedge). It is understood that one can use one or two or three edges ofthe construction sheet for alignment with the alignment guides attachedtogether. In an embodiment the alignment guides are mechanicallyattached together and are not attached to a construction sheet to form aframe from which to build a wall, floor or ceiling.

It is well known and understood in the construction industry that wallsare made not only in different sizes and shapes but also in differentthickness. Due to the adaptability of the alignment guides, they can bemanufactured in multiple size configurations to accommodate differentthickness in walls and for single, double or triple headerconfigurations. The header/footer alignment guides can be printed,stamped or molded with markings such as volume, measurement or buildingcode information that in the case of a mold can also transfer onto theinsulation if the guide is in contact with the insulation, particularlyfoam insulation. Various wall, floor or ceilings may be created usingthe present invention, such as fiberglass walls or walls of othermolding type material as the construction sheet material.

In an embodiment there is an adaptable alignment guide embodying thecomponents of the alignment guides 20, 30 and 40 with basic adjustmentsto accommodate the different thickness of the wall, floor or ceiling. Anembodiment of the adaptable alignment guide 378 is shown in FIG. 13 inwhich there are two detachable right-angle shaped base units 380 (eachwith a bottom and side) which attach together through fasteners on sideslots 390 and two side arm units 370 which attach to the bases 380through fasteners to bottom slots 390 and which base unit attaches aside arm unit through slots 395 and side holes 397. Bottom slots 390 andside slots 395 allow for movement relative to each part to adjust fordifferent thickness of wall construction. Such fasteners could be bolts.The adaptable alignment guide 378 allows for a single alignment guide toaccommodate multi-sized wall and construction sheet 110 thicknesses.Given that either multiple alignment guides or different alignmentguides of selected fixed sizes or alignment guides of adjustable sizemay be used, the corresponding wall, ceiling or floor may also be ofvarying sizes.

In an embodiment, a wall, floor or ceiling could be rotatable for easeof assembly, pouring insulation or simply accessing the other side ofthe wall, floor or ceiling. An embodiment of a rotatable alignment guide440, shown in FIG. 14, in its simplest depiction has corner holes 420for fasteners to attach it at about the center line of the head or footof the wall, floor or ceiling either to the construction sheet(s) and/orto the header/footer alignment guide. Support for this rotatablealignment guide could be any convenient structure on the constructionsite or could be custom fabricated for the purpose therein. Onceattached, any holding means, such as a construction pipe, is insertedinto the insertion opening 410 to act as the rotational point. Onerotatable alignment guide is secured at the footer and another rotatablealignment guide is secured at the header, each with a holding means suchas a pipe or pole, to form an axis of rotation.

The alignment guides allow for any length of height of wall, floor orceiling to be constructed on the ground horizontally and lifted intoplace, and mechanical equipment may be used for lifting due to heavyweight. Errors may be easier to see and correct when a wall or otherbuilding component is lying down. The alignment guides eliminate the useof chalk lines and expensive lasers resulting in less acquisition andusage of equipment, and reducing the set up time therein.

Running of services may be also much quicker and easier when a wall orother building component is in the horizontal plane.

From the above detailed description of the invention, the operation andconstruction of same should be apparent. While there are herein shownand described example embodiments of the invention, it is neverthelessunderstood that various changes may be made with respect thereto withoutdeparting from the principle and scope of the invention as measured bythe following claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method of constructing a buildingcomponent using studs and one or more construction sheets, comprisingthe steps of: placing the one or more construction sheets lengthwise ina row to form two outer lengthwise edges and a first and second outerside edge; placing along the two outer lengthwise edges of the row afirst open trough shaped alignment guide comprising a base and two sidearms, the width of said base approximating the width of a constructionstud and the length including slots spaced equidistance apart, said sidearms further projecting firstly perpendicular and secondly parallel tothe side arms to each form an exterior side channel opening in theopposite direction of the open trough, each channel having a widthapproximating the depth of a sheet of construction material, said sidearms having a height approximating the depth of a construction stud;placing along one of the first outer side edge a second open troughshaped alignment guide comprising a base and two side arms, the width ofsaid base approximating the width of a construction stud and said sidearms further projecting firstly perpendicular and secondly parallel tothe side arms to each form an exterior side channel opening in theopposite direction of the open trough, each channel having a widthapproximating the depth of a sheet of construction material, said sidearms having a height approximating half the depth of a constructionstud; placing at either end of the second outer side edge at least twoof a third open trough shaped alignment guide comprising a base and twoside arms, said base approximating the width of a construction stud andsaid side arms approximating the height of half the depth of aconstruction stud, each side arm projecting first substantiallyperpendicular to form a shelf having a width approximating the depth ofa sheet of construction material, and projecting secondly substantiallyparallel to the side arm; placing studs substantially perpendicular andbetween the first alignment guides guided by the slots to form a seriesof equally spaced parallel studs; and securing the series of studs tothe first alignment guides.
 2. The method of claim 1 which furthercomprises the step of securing the alignment guides to the constructionsheets.